What's New in Surfcam 2012 R1 - September 2011

2012 R1 is a release combining new strategies with an improved user interface across many aspects of the software. The strategies will make creating tool paths effortless and the improvements to the user interface will get your result much faster than before.

3 to 5-Axis Cycle Extended

The 3 to 5-Axis cycle for Profiling was introduced in the last release. In Surfcam 2012 R1 this has been extended to support eight more finishing cycles. The following cycles are now supported:

Profiling

Parallel Lace

Constant Cusp

Rest Finishing

Flow Surface

Project Boundary Collapse

Project Flow Curves

Project Circular Pattern

Pencil Mill

Note
The cycle is available with the 5-Axis Simultaneous Milling EN050-S and 5-Axis Simultaneous Milling for Education ENEDU-5 licenses.

Linear Axis Checking in Rotary Mode

Linear axis limit checking (introduced in the last version) has been extended in Surfcam 2012 R1 and now supports rotary mode in both the mill and mill/turn environment.

Surfcam reports when a cycle has exceeded the limits of the machine tool and indicates axis and direction. This allows you to take corrective action immediately.

Improved machine checking

Reduced prove out time

Improved Display and Editing of Cycle Selections

To improve the editing of Roughing, Profiling and 5-Axis cycles Surfcam 2012 R1 introduces a new way of editing individual elements of the cycle input.

Each selected element is now listed under the relevant cycle in the sequence browser and can be highlighted and edited individually.

Display of current geometry selection

Add to or subtract from selection

Add new element types without having to reselect everything

Edit several different items before choosing to regenerate the instruction

When an element is edited the current geometry is automatically selected in the graphics area and you can easily add to it or remove elements.

‘Update Stock’ Speed Improvements

The 'Update Stock' command now caches the stock model at each point. This means the next ‘Update Stock’ command will only process the cycles applied since the previous stock rather than the whole sequence each time. The new behaviour offers the following benefits:

Much faster after initial stock update

Improved regeneration time

In addition, you can now start Simulator from any Update Stock command

Reduce Sequence Regeneration for Index Command

Regeneration of Index commands has been improved in Surfcam 2012 R1.

Previously, changing any modifier in the Index command would cause subsequent instructions (instructions below the command in the list) to regenerate. The behaviour has changed and modifiers that do not affect the CPL position no longer cause a regeneration, speeding up the regeneration process.

For example, it is common to place machined parts onto a tombstone and then edit the work datum for each individual part. Previously this would have caused a regeneration of the sequence when editing the Index command even though the toolpath has not really changed.

Enhanced Turret Parking

Turret parking has been enhanced in Surfcam 2012 R1. The following enhancements give greater flexibility over how the tool is parked and allow you to consider the requirements of your machine:

For index type turrets you can now specify how the Z parking position is calculated by selecting the required option from the new Positioning Mode list.

For all turret types you can now override the default XYZ Park Positions set in the postprocessor.

Note
For ATC turrets the positioning mode list is not available. The positioning mode is always ‘fixed’ (Z parking positions are not offset). This remains unchanged from 2011 R2.

Tailstocks in Surfcam

Surfcam 2012 R1 introduces tailstock support. This allows machines to be configured with tailstock devices for use by Surfcam, Simulator and Code Generator.

In Code Wizard, specify parametric or custom tailstock graphics

Control tailstock movements in Surfcam with graphical feedback

Simulation of tailstock movements and collision detection

Include tailstock moves in cycle time

Feature Support for Slots

It is now possible to detect and machine planar slots within Surfcam. Feature Finder has been enhanced to recognise areas that can be machined using the slotting cycle. ‘Slot features’ can be

Simulator Enhancements

Loading Tools from Heidenhain Controller

You can now import tooling data directly from a Heidenhain iTNC530 controller, using the Import Heidenhain Tool Data option in ToolStore Administrator. Using a toolkit containing “real” tools allows you to

Manually Compare Surfcam tooling with the actual machine setup

Simulate using the actual tools that will be used for machining

PCI-JavaScript

Surfcam 2012 R1 introduces PCI-JavaScript. Rather than continue developing a bespoke language we have switched to supporting JavaScript. This is the industry standard language for the Web and will greatly enhance the flexibility for customisation.

Use an industry standard language

Access to file and operating systems

Talk directly to Microsoft Office applications

Continued support for PCI language

Improved Working with Surface Finish Attributes

Working with Surface Finish Attributes has been improved in Part Modeler 2012 R1. The following changes have been made to the Surface Attributes dialog:

The new surface finish viewer (opened by clicking the Show Attributes button) gives a visual comparison of surface finishes on each face of the component

You can now set a default finish for the whole component

Using the Match Attributes option you can set or edit attributes for multiple faces at the same time

As before, the attributes are inherited by Mill and Turn features that include the face, after feature finding in Surfcam. In turning, they can then be used as input to the Finish Turning and New Rough Turning cycle, so the feedrate can be adjusted by the Surface Finish value, for example. In milling, you can use the surface attributes when working with Strategy Manager strategies.

New Helical Groove Feature

In Part Modeler 2012 R1 it is now possible to produce helical grooves using the new 3D Construction ► Feature ► Helical Groove command. This new feature allows you to

Produce helical grooves with a square form, rounded square (corner radius in groove), round form and "V" form

Define features for helix design such as pitch, CLW/CCLW helix, start angle

New CAD Loader for Part Modeler

Part Modeler 2012 R1 introduces a new CAD loader that allows you to load Creo Parametric models into Part Modeler.

Emboss and Engrave Features

Part Modeler 2012 R1 offers a new 3DConstruction ►Feature ►Emboss/Engrave command that allows you to add an embossed or engraved feature to a component

Add features that are projected outward (embossed)

Add features that are projected inward (engraved)

Edit the model to add fillets/chamfers

Emboss or engrave text features

Rendered Image on Threads

In Part Modeler 2012 R1 it is now possible to render threads on models.

More realistic representation of threads on a solid model (internal and external threads)

Quickly and accurately view where threads are located on the solid model